Marble game device with troughs



1969 R. J. KILLOREN 3,460,833

MARBLE GAME DEVICE WITH TROUGHS Filed Sept. 26, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 8- 1969 R. J. KILLOREN 3,460,833

MARBLE GAME DEVICE WITH TROUGHS Filed Sept. 26, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Olfice 3,460,833 MARBLE GAME DEVICE WITH TROUGHS Richard J. Killoren, 169 Locust Drive, Fairborn, Ohio 45324 Filed Sept. 26, 1966, Ser. No. 581,777 Int. Cl. A63d 3/02; A63b 37/00; A63f 7/10 US. Cl. 273120 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A marble game device, to be played by two or more players, having a plurality of inclined surfaces whereby marbles may be rolled toward pins spaced a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the marbles and forming bumpers for the marbles. Pockets for retaining the marbles have a pin located midway between two of the bumper pins and are displaced from the bumper pins onehalf the diameter of the marbles in the direction of motion of the marbles. Channels are provided at the end of the inclined surfaces for rapid delivery of missed marbles to a position adjacent the next playing position.

This invention relates to a marble game device to be played by two or more players, by rolling marbles or other spherical members down an inclined plane toward a predetermined number of marble retainers.

One object of the invention is to provide a competitive game device which depends on both player skill and chance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a competitive game wherein each player has his own playing device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device that permits rapid succession of play to maintain high interest.

These and other objects will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken with the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a two player game device according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially cut away side view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the device of FIG. 1 along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the device of FIG. 1 along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified game deivce for use by four players; and

FIG. 6 is a top view of the device of FIG. 5.

In many game devices the players have to take turns using a single playing device or if played together the plays made by one player limits the possible plays left to be made by the other player. According to this invention, a plurality of identical playing devices are provided to keep each players game independent of each of the other players games and which provides an active and very competitive game which depends partially on player skill with a suflicient element of chance to make the game interesting for players of various age brackets. Channels are provided for rapid delivery of the missed marbles to the next player to permit fast action and lively interest.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1 of the drawing which shows a game device 10* having two rectangular game sections 11 and 12. The game sections have inclined playing surfaces 13 and 14, each with a foul line =15. An inclined groove 16 is provided at the lower end of each of the playing surfaces. The grooves are spaced from each other and a marble holder 17 is provided between the grooves. A plurality of marbles 18 are stored on the marble support 17. Two inclined troughs 19 are provided on 3,460,833 Patented Aug. 12, 1969 the side of the device running from the lower end of each groove 16 to a point on the side of the device adjacent the opposite end of the device, adjacent the opposite playing surface. A stop 20 is provided at the end of troughs 19. A plurality of bumper pins 21 are provided projecting upwardly from each of the playing surfaces. The pins 21 are located in two lines across the playing surfaces, and are spaced from each other by a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the marbles. A plurality of pins 22 are located midway between certain of said pins 21. The pins 22 are in rows displaced from pins 21 in, the direction of grooves 16 by a distance approximately equal to one-half the diameter of the marbles to provide a plurality of marble retainers. In the device constructed, six marble retainers were provided on each playing surface. Side members 23 and 24 keep the marbles from rolling off the sides of surfaces 13 and 14.

In the operation of the device one player rolls a marble, from a position between the foul line and the upper edge of the playing surface, toward said pins to attempt to catch the marble in one of the marble retainers. If the marble is caught, the player takes another marble from holder 17 and plays it in the same manner. He continues this until a marble misses all of the marble retainers and moves through a groove 16 and a trough 19 to the stop 20 adjacent the opponents side of the board. The other player than takes the marble and proceeds in the same manner. When a marble misses all the marble retainers and moves to the stop 20 adjacent the first player, the first player continues the play. Play thus continues until one of the players fills all of the marble retainers on his side of the device at which time play will cease and he is the winner. As can be seen as many as five marbles on one playing surface and six on the other, for a total of eleven marbles, might be needed before a winner is determined. A marble bounced out of one of the marble retainers by another marble is played in the same manner as a played marble that has missed all of the marble retainers.

While the device shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 is made for two players, slight modification in the design can adapt the device for three, four or more players. A device designed for four players is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The device of FIGS. 5 and 6 has four playing surfaces 25, 26, 27, and 28. Each of these surfaces has a foul line 29 and pins 33 and 34 located in the same manner as in the device of FIGS. 1 through 4. The grooves 35 at the end of each playing surface leads to troughs 36 with stops 37 adjacent the far end of the playing device to the right of each playing device. Marble holders 39 are located in the area 40 in the middle of the four playing surfaces. The marble holders may be located as shown in FIG. 4 or as shown in FIG. 5. The game is played in substantially the same manner as described above. Twenty-one marbles are required for this device if six retainers are provided on each surface.

Other pin arrangements and marble retainers than those shown may be used if desired. Also the additional marbles may be stored in a separate container or in other positions than those shown.

There is thus provided a marble game device for use by two or more players which depends on both player skill and chance.

While certain specific embodiments have been described, it is to be understood that numerous changes may be made without departing from the general principles and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A marble game device, comprising a plurality of substantially rectangular game sections; each of said game sections having an inclined playing surface; a plurality of marbles adapted to be rolled down said inclined playing surfaces; a plurality of marble retainers on each of said playing surfaces; means including a trough sloping downwardly from the lower end of each playing surface to a position near the highest portion of another game section for delivering, by gravity, marbles which miss said retainers to a position near one of the other game sections.

2. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein there are two playing game sections; said means for delivering marbles which miss said retainers including grooves extending across the lower end of each of said playing surfaces with said troughs extending from the lower end of each of said grooves to a position adjacent the far end of the opposite playing section.

3. The device as recited in claim 2 wherein each of said playing surfaces has at least one row of pins projecting upwardly therefrom with at least certain of said pins being spaced from each other by a distance slightly greater than the diameter of said marbles and at least one additional row of pins spaced from said at least one row of pins by a distance approximately equal to one-half the diameter of said marbles; the pins of said additional row of pins being located approximately midway between said certain of said pins in said one row of pins.

4. The device as recited in claim 3 wherein a foul line is provided adjacent the upper edge of each of said playing surfaces.

5. The device recited in claim 1 wherein each of said playing surfaces has at least one row of pins projecting upwardly therefrom with at least certain of said pins being spaced from each other by a distance slightly greater than the diameter of said marbles and said marble retainers being formed by at least one additional row of pin-s spaced from said at least one row of pins by a distance approximately equal to one-half the diameter of said marbles with the pins of said at least one additional row of pins being located approximately midway between said certain of said pins in said one row of pins.

6. A marble game device, comprising four rectangular game sections; each of said game sections having an inclined playing surface; a plurality of marbles adapted to be rolled down said inclined playing surfaces; a plurality of marble retainers on each of said playing surfaces; an inclined groove extending across the lower end of each of said playing surfaces with a trough extending from the lower end of each of said grooves to a position adjacent the far end of a playing section next adjacent each of said playing sections from where the trough started for delivering marbles which miss said retainers to a position adjacent one of the adjacent playing sections.

7. The device as recited in claim 6 wherein each of said playing surfaces has at least one row of pins projecting upwardly therefrom with at least certain of said pins being spaced from each other by a distance slightly greater than the diameter of said marbles and at least one additional row of pins spaced from said at least one row of pins by a distance approximately equal to one-half the diameter of said marbles; the pins of said additional row of pins being located approximately midway between said certain of said pins in said one row of pins.

8. The device as recited in claim 7 wherein a foul line is provided adjacent the upper edge of each of said playing surfaces.

9. A marble game device, comprising a plurality of rectangular game sections; each of said game sections having an inclined playing surface; a plurality of marbles adapted to be rolled down said inclined playing surfaces; an inclined groove extending across the lower end of each of said playing surfaces; a trough extending from the lower end of each of said grooves to a position adjacent one of the adjacent playing sections; a plurality of first rows of pins projecting upwardly from each of said playing surfaces, with at least certain of said pins being spaced from each other by a distance slightly greater than the diameter of said marbles; a plurality of second rows of pins spaced from said first rows by a distance approximately equal to onehalf. the diameter of said marbles; each of the pins in said second rows of pins being located approximately midway between said certain of said pins in said first rows of pins; means on each of said surfaces for indicating the position from which the marbles should be started.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,374,844 4/1921 FlatoW 27386 X 1,730,523 10/1929 Nicholas 273-121 2,710,755 6/1955 Craig 273122 2,753,187 7/1956 Orsini 273 3,194,559 7/1965 McCutcheon 273-121 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner THOMAS ZACK, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

